THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 6, 1996 TAG: 9610040242
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: COVER STORY
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 124 lines
IT'S THIS CITY'S largest party.
Peanut Fest gets under way Thursday and swoops through four festive days at Suffolk Municipal Airport.
It's a 19-year tradition that grows - and becomes more interesting - year after year.
Peanut Fest is a large-sized version of the old county fair. That was when farmers brought their animals for judging; their wives brought their jams and jellies; their children brought their pets.
There was plenty to eat, a lot of games and some rides.
Peanut Fest has a lot of rides for kiddies as well as adults, and games of chance - chance is, you will have a tough time winning.
The Suffolk festival has retained the flavor of the county fair, but enlarged on it. Animals are there for looking and/or petting; the arts and crafts tent features a great deal of homemade food.
Speaking of food, Peanut Fest is a great place to pig out, offering everything from traditional cotton candy to edible elephant ears.
And there's plenty of entertainment - a constant stream on three stages. The topper is country singer Martina McBride, nominated three times on last week's Country Music Association awards show.
The one thing that will not get any awards is getting in and getting out. Take a ``patience pill.'' The lines of traffic are likely to be long.
The site is easy to find. Every road in and out of Suffolk is filled with signs.
If you're driving from downtown Suffolk, it's no problem. Follow the signs or just look for the long line of cars heading south. Claim your place in line and wait.
Once you get near the site, follow the people waving their arms around. They'll find a place for you to park at a location that will slip your mind by the time you try to find your car again.
Make sure you're wearing your most comfortable shoes. You're going to do a lot of walking on this 70-acre site.
Chances are you will be with your family; chances are you will meet some old friends including some folks you haven't seen since Peanut Fest '95.
All that talkin' and walkin' - you'll work up a good appetite.
Peanut Fest can take care of your hunger pangs with really good food, most of it calorie-laden. What the heck! You can eat sensibly later.
Right now think about juicy Polish sausages, those elephant ears, candied apples, hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, lemonade, soft drinks, beer. And - whoops - almost forgot - peanuts.
Walk around Goober Street, check the attractions on Boosenut Court and Peanut Butter Lane. Then, stroll across Peanut Butter River Memorial Bridge.
No matter where you are, carry a schedule of events with you. (You'll get one as you come in to find out who's performing where and at what time.)
McBride, performing at 4 p.m. Sunday, is the major attraction. The singer, whose song, ``Independence Day,'' is a cry against spousal abuse, will draw a large crowd. And there's a lot more country.
On Friday, you can enjoy Cactus Rose at 7 p.m. and 32 South at 9:15. The latter group played at the Peanut Fest Dance.
You can hear Bruce Todd, Slick Nickel, Bitter Creek Band, Tonja Rose and the Wooden Nickel Band between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday. Troy Hedspeth, the 14-year-old Hampton Roads Garth Brooks-like performer, will sing at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Hole Shot, a Hampton Roads group, performs at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Country-flavored dancing is on tap, literally, Saturday and Sunday. The Flatland Cloggers dance at 1 p.m. and the Peanut City Cloggers at 4 p.m. Saturday. The County Line Cloggers show up at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Peanut Fest music isn't all country, though.
There will be a double dose of John, Paul, George and Ringo - yeah, yeah, yeah! ``Beatlemania Live'' is at 8 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Tim Beasley has a ``Beatles Tribute'' at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
And, there are the entertainers who seem to be everywhere, appearing at everyone's fest: Bill Deal, Fat Ammon & The Rhondels will keep things pleasantly rockin' at 8 p.m. Thursday.
The Rhondels are on their own at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, following the country rock sounds of the Bill Lyerly Band who do their thing at 3:30 p.m.
There's more country rock music. The Delevantes, a Nashville-based group, performs at 2:30 p.m., opening for McBride.
Several Peanut Fest performers can be categorized as ``in-between.'' They are not major stars, nor are they small potatoes.
Friday at 6:30 there's acoustic musician Lewis McGehee. Then at 9:30, the Marshall Tucker Band. In between - at 8 p.m. - is ``The Byrds Celebration,'' with some young men recalling the music of that group.
More acoustic music will be offered by ``local-boy-made-good-in-that-department,'' Andy Hengel. He performs at 5 p.m. Friday.
If you're into a mix of blues, jazz, rock, easy listening and Motown, you get it all from Odyssey at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Sunday, not unexpectedly, there will be gospel. Between 1 and 5:45 p.m. you will be entertained and inspired by the Old Time Gospel Singers, LondonAires, Solid Rock, Friendship Quartet and Messengers.
The Peanut Fest entertainers will alternate between two stages - Bud Fest and Coors Harvest as well as - no surprise - a Peanut Stage.
Some of the entertainers, including Smiley the Clown and members of Suffolk's Fine Arts Center will be strolling around.
There's a lot to catch at Peanut Fest, including a tent filled with commercial exhibits, a great place to pick up freebies.
Incidentally, admission is free. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos, including color cover, by JOHN H.
SHEALLY II
From Thursday to Sunday, Peanut Fest-goers can enjoy the rides at
the Suffolk Airport site, including one that will take them upside
down.
Peanut Fest will have amusement rides to please all ages.
Grave Digger, the monster truck, and its smaller model will be on
hand to entertain fest-goers.
At the top of the slide ride, one can get a great view of the
festival site.
Graphic
PEANUT FEST
When: 2-10:30 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday;
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday
Where: Suffolk Airport.
Highlights: Friday, Nationwide Demolition Derby, 7:30 p.m.;
fireworks, 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, McLamb Rodeo, 9 p.m.;
Martina McBride, 4 p.m. Sunday
Parking: $5 a day, $10 for three days. Three-day tickets
available at any Sentry Mart
Call: 538-0109. by CNB